The Dish · 海南鸡饭
What is Hainanese chicken rice?
Poached chicken, rice cooked in chicken fat, and three things to dip it in. Here’s what’s on the plate, how we cook it, and where to eat it in New York.
By Chef Erik Cheah ·
Our laksa and our char kway teow are loud dishes. Hainanese chicken rice is the quiet one on the menu: chicken poached the traditional way, chicken-fat rice, and sauces on the side so you can build each bite yourself. On our menu it’s H3, the Hainanese Chicken Rice Set.
What’s on the plate
The H3 set comes with:
- Poached chicken
- Chicken-fat rice
- House dark soy
- Chili
- Ginger-scallion
- Broth on the side
It’s $14. For our signature poached chicken, order H1 · Classic Hainanese Poached Chicken ($20), one of our house signatures: poached the traditional way, sliced to order and rested in its own stock. Prefer crackling skin? H4 · Fry Roasted Chicken Rice Set is also $14, with chicken that’s roasted, then fried. Every bird we serve comes with dark soy, chili and ginger-scallion.
If you don’t eat pork, ask for a pork-free preparation. Our kitchen uses shellfish, peanuts, egg, soy, gluten and pork lard in one wok, so please tell us about allergies before you order.
Where our version comes from
I grew up across Penang, Ipoh, Malacca and Seremban, watching the same national dishes come out of every kitchen a different way. Same name, different hands. At Wok Wok we cook one set of hands: my family’s versions, unchanged in forty years.
With chicken rice there’s nowhere to hide, so we don’t cut corners on the bird. Our chickens come in whole, get poached whole, and are butchered at the counter, often while wearing a chef’s toque.
I graduated from culinary arts school in Malaysia, but the food I wanted to cook was the food I grew up with. My parents cooked for decades as hawkers in Penang, selling white curry laksa to commuters from their backyard. Read the full story.
Where to get it in NYC
Wok Wok is at 11 Mott Street (at Worth St), Chinatown, down a flight of stairs. We’re open daily: Sun–Wed 11am–9:30pm, Thu–Sat 11am–10pm. Walk-ins only, no reservations.
For pickup or delivery, order direct or call (917) 388-3627. Our phone assistant takes pickup orders, including orders for later. The Hainanese Chicken Rice Set is $14, and paying cash saves 4%. On the phone you can just say the code, “H3.” Feeding a group? See catering. Browse the full menu, including the white curry laksa, Penang har mee, char kway teow and nasi lemak.
Questions people ask
What is Hainanese chicken rice?
Poached chicken served with rice. At Wok Wok the set is poached chicken and chicken-fat rice with dark soy, chili and ginger-scallion, and broth on the side.
Where can I get Hainanese chicken rice in NYC?
At Wok Wok, 11 Mott Street (at Worth St) in Chinatown, Manhattan, downstairs below street level. Open daily: Sun–Wed 11am–9:30pm, Thu–Sat 11am–10pm.
How much is it, and what do I order?
Ask for H3, the Hainanese Chicken Rice Set. It is $14. Our signature poached chicken, H1 Classic Hainanese Poached Chicken, is $20.
Is it spicy?
It is not marked spicy on our menu. The chili comes on the side, so you decide how much to use.
Can I get the chicken crispy instead?
Yes. H4, the Fry Roasted Chicken Rice Set, is also $14. That chicken is roasted, then fried for crackling skin. Our kitchen uses shellfish, peanuts, egg, soy, gluten and pork lard in one wok, so tell us about any allergies before ordering.